Overseasidol.com — Chinese actor Zhang Han recently found himself at the center of online controversy after portraying a high school student in a scene from his upcoming film.
At 41 years old, his appearance as a teenager was quickly criticized by netizens who felt it lacked authenticity and called it “cringe-inducing” and “unconvincing”.
Some even joked that he looked like “a dad borrowing his son’s school uniform,” while others questioned the casting choices, accusing the production team of forcing youthfulness on a visibly older actor.
On June 12, Zhang Han took to social media to clarify the situation.
“I heard people are digging into my role as a high schooler? It’s just a flashback scene from my new movie. Thanks for the concern,” he wrote.
This isn’t the first time Zhang Han has faced backlash for taking on youthful roles.
Once best known for his breakout performance as Murong Yunhai in Meteor Shower, and later typecast as the charismatic CEO in various romantic dramas, Zhang’s attempts at transitioning into more diverse roles have been met with mixed reception.
